OEMs begin selling 4 GB variant of AMD's Radeon R9 390

The AMD Radeon R9 390, which launched earlier this year, features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory as standard. However, some board partners are starting to release 4 GB variants of the same card at a lower price point, presenting an attractive option for those that don't need a full 8 GB of frame buffer.

So far these cards have only appeared at Chinese retailer JD.com, although they could hit other markets shortly. The most expensive of the options is from PowerColor, with their triple-fan-cooled 4 GB model going for approximately US$325. A dual-fan model from Sapphire is available for $309, while a similar product from XFX costs $305.

Typical 8 GB Radeon R9 390 models go for around $330, so there is a small saving to be made by choosing a 4 GB model. However, depending on the day and the current crop of rebate offerings, you can get an 8 GB R9 390 for as low as $290, making the new 4 GB model somewhat redundant at the above, converted prices.

Of course there is a chance that when (and if) these cards reach the United States, they will be priced at a reasonable point below the current 8 GB models. There is currently a sizable gap in price between the R9 390 and the R9 380X, where a 4 GB model of the R9 390 could slot in nicely.

Interestingly, a 4 GB variant of the R9 390 is essentially a simple rebrand of its predecessor, the Radeon R9 290, that launched with 4 GB of GDDR5. Unless you're gaming at 4K or other high resolutions, 4 GB of frame buffer should be sufficient for today's games, although if you want to future proof your purchase, opting for the 8 GB model is a more sensible decision.